[hopefulfamily2b]

Our homestudy and dossier should be complete by next month. Assumming we are approved, what is the typical time frame from referral to travel? What kind of information did your received on your child during the referral process? How was your experience when you went to the Philippines? We are currently using Wide Horizon as our agency. We are very pleased with the progress so far. They give us a general time table; however, I would like to know if anyone has used them and approxamately how long the whole process took. As you can tell, we are both anxious to adopt. If you have any other information that you can give us as to what to expect, it would be teriffic. Thanks so much.

[orphanagemom]

Hi,
We didn't go through them just because they were more expensive, and they gave us a few wrong answers when we were checking them out. They are accredited though, and they are one of the two names that the sisters at the orphanage gave us that they respect and adopt through. We finished our dossier and our agency had in off to the Philippines within a week of having it. The Philippines had our dossier at the beginning of July 2003 and we got our approval letter dated July 9, 2003. We go this weekend to pick up our new daughter, so it took us just one year from gathering paperwork, until we get to go get her! Good luck! If you'd like any other info. Please pm me!
Jen

[Ogpim30]

Hi - this is my first time posting. I've been browsing the boards, and when I saw that there were others wanting to adopt from the Philippines, I had to reply. My husband and I just decided on an agency and have started the paperwork. From what I understand, our referral will take 1 to 2 years and that it is likely we will have an older infant (1 year or so).

Jen - Your story is so uplifting! I wish you much luck. Were you able to adopt a girl or boy? How old will your child be?

[mattyp]

How was the INS process on the way home?

[mom3times]

Our youngest daughter is adopted from the Philippines. She's 13 now and she was only 6 months old when we picked her up, so its been a while. We used Wide Horizons and really liked them. They have placed children from the Philippines since at least the mid 80's.
The time frame is never exact with the Philippines. IF your of Filipino heritage times are usually quicker and if your requesting a boy or either sex its sometimes quicker and sometimes what you specify as ok for medical problems exactly match a child and the referral is faster.
There is a Yahoo group adopt-philippines that has tons of current information.

[orphanagemom]

Hi,
We're back with our darling almost 3 year old daughter. We stayed 2 weeks, and took in a lot of the culture. I did almost starve the first week though, as I hate all seafood, fish, and being hot, and that's all there was. Even the malls/stores aren't airconditioned! But, it was a wonderful experience, and it was so much fun! She is doing wonderfully, and she is already mixing English in with her Tagalog, and she seems to understand most everything we say! It has been wonderful, and when I get a little more time I'll post our whole story!!! See you all later!
Jen